The application process ensures we find not only the best students, but also the most diverse group to fit hand-in-glove with our Think in the Next credo.

We make sure that you and your classmates will excel while supporting each other in reaching beyond conventional thinking and becoming the industry-shaping leaders of tomorrow.

Application tips from UCLA Anderson MBAs:

Requirements

Successful applicants carefully review our MBA application requirements below, and also take the time to connect with our community and learn how to use our resources to thrive. We encourage you to let us know who you are by introducing yourself, attending an event and starting an application.

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Online Application

All applicants must apply to the MBA program online. Applications will be accepted for fall 2019 starting August 1, 2018. The application fee is $200. Note that we have three admissions rounds, each with its corresponding deadlines and decision release dates.Apply Here

Four-year Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent

Candidates must hold a completed undergraduate degree in order to enroll in our MBA program. Usually this is a four-year bachelor's degree, or its equivalent in other countries.

International applicants with just a three-year undergraduate degree may be admitted if the Admissions Committee determines that their entire academic profile and overall application are strong enough.

You should submit scanned copies of your academic records with your application. Only applicants invited to interview should send us official hard-copy documents upon request.

Records needed from schools outside the United States include multiple documents as described on the International Students page.

We understand the differing rigor of schools and grading scales around the world, and we always evaluate academics within their own context, without converting them to any other system. Grades on scales other than the American 4.0 standard should NOT be converted for reporting purposes on the application. No discrepancy should exist between what you report and what we see on your transcripts.

Undergraduate majors of all kinds are welcome in the class: we seek some business and economics graduates but also engineers, scientists and those who studied liberal arts.

Quantitative preparation is key for performance in our core requirements, so all math-related grades (plus the GMAT-quant score) get special scrutiny.

Grade trends are important, and we like to see averages that get better over time as undergraduates learn to thrive in their chosen major. We give you the benefit of the doubt for occasional difficulty in classes, but our students tend to show a consistent level of functioning above their peers.

If you want to bolster your academic profile, you could complete additional coursework now and submit the transcript with the application for consideration. MBA-related classes such as calculus, statistics, accounting or finance are preferred.

Professional certifications such as CFA, CPA, Chartered Accountant, etc., can add value to your profile and there is a section in the application to note them.

Undergraduate courses taken in a term at another institution (e.g., during an exchange program) do not require an additional transcript as long as they appear on the degree-granting school's transcript. You should submit transcripts for all coursework taken after secondary school (high school).

To facilitate our evaluation of your degree(s), you may choose to supply a course-by-course credential evaluation report from World Education Services along with the scanned documents from your school.

The GMAT and/or GRE test date must be no earlier than five years before the application submission date to be valid, and not later than the deadline date for the round in which you are applying.

We primarily evaluate your top score, but all scores reported to UCLA Anderson are visible to the Admissions Committee.

Within the MBA application, you must report the test date and score you want the Admissions Committee to evaluate.

Applications cannot be reviewed without complete test scores (as self-reported by the candidate or officially by the GMAT or GRE office), and applications are only reviewed in the round when scores are received.

Official GMAT score reports are sent electronically upon your request from Pearson VUE to UCLA Anderson MBA Admissions (with the School Code 2NZ-2F-24). Official scores are required for admission but not for applying.

Official GRE score reports are sent electronically upon your request from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to UCLA Anderson MBA Admissions (with the school code 0771). Official scores are required for admission but not for applying.

We primarily evaluate your top score, but all scores reported to UCLA Anderson are visible to the Admissions Committee.

No minimum GMAT score is required, and the Admissions Committee has the flexibility to consider all scores in the context of your overall academic preparation and management potential.

For further information and testing arrangements, please visit the GMAT or GRE website.

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Work Experience

Although the majority of our students do have full-time work experience, early career and college senior prospective students may still apply.

We evaluate candidates on their work in any given field after the completion of their undergraduate degree. Backgrounds and interests vary widely among our students, but they all share a vision of how the MBA will empower their future.

Quality of experience is more important than quantity.

We look at your impact in the context of the time you had and the field you're in.

Diverse paths lead to business school, and we find that students learn more when we mix people from every type and level of organization. Your application should show us how you will contribute to the mix of your class.

We are most impressed by increasing levels of responsibility over time; those who advance faster than their peers are the people we admit first.

The majority of our students are career-switchers using the MBA to leverage roles in a new field. Others will springboard back into higher positions in their current sectors.

We admit very few people without at least a year or two of post-baccalaureate work. Our "early career" admits contribute more in terms of academic excellence and contagious study skills.

Leadership in work, campus or community organizations helps to demonstrate management potential. Show us that you can commit to an organization, create a vision and motivate others to achieve goals together.

Jobs held prior to completing your undergraduate degree may be listed if desired, but our focus is on post-baccalaureate experience.

A resume must be submitted with the application and should create a compelling summary of your career, ideally on one page but not more than two pages.

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Recommendations

New applicants are required to submit two recommendations. Reapplicants only need to submit one new recommendation. Recommendations should be written by individuals who are well acquainted with your performance in a work setting, preferably from a direct supervisor or manager.

The recommendations provide us with third-party confirmation and insights into your achievements. You should choose recommenders who will support your candidacy with concrete examples of performance and impact on the organization.

Questions from the online recommendation form are shown below and are for reference only.

The Recommendations must be submitted online, not via hard-copy responses to these questions.

You must register your recommenders, who then use the confidential online link they receive directly from our online application. Your recommenders also have the option to upload an additional document if desired.

If a recommender does not write in English, the uploaded document can be a certified translation of their comments.

Only two recommendations are accepted per application.

Ideally your recommendations should be from current direct supervisors or managers who are best equipped to answer questions about your leadership, communication, teamwork, initiative and other skills.

If you are unable to ask a current supervisor for a recommendation, then you can ask a former boss, a manager from another department, or a consultant or client who knows you well enough to answer the questions insightfully.

Academic contacts are not usually able to provide information on management potential. Similarly, family members, peers and friends are not appropriate as recommenders.

Your recommenders' own titles or positions are not important - instead, their ability to comment knowledgeably and specifically about you is vital.

Letters from contacts (including alumni) who do not know you well cannot add value like direct supervisors can.

Recommendations are due by the application deadline.

Re-applicants only need 1 recommendation.

Recommendation Questions and Topics*

1. Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant and, if applicable, the applicant’s role in your organization.

2. How does the performance of the applicant compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? (E.g. what are the applicant’s principal strengths?)

3. Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response.

*Please note: Questions and topics listed above are for reference only. Actual submission of letters of recommendation is done online, through the online application system only.

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Essays

For the 2018–2019 application year, first-time applicants must respond to one essay question and one short answer question. Reapplicants are required to respond to the reapplicant essay question.

Short Answer Question: What are you passionate about and why? (300 words maximum)

Reapplicants

(For applicants who applied for the MBA program in the previous two years)

Reapplicant Question: Please describe your career progress since you last applied and how you have enhanced your candidacy. Include information on short-term and long-term career goals, as well as your continued interest in UCLA Anderson. (750 words maximum)

Optional Question: Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? Please use your best judgment. (250 words maximum)

No preference is given in the evaluation process to applicants who submit a response to the optional question.

Please note:

Your essays are the primary way for you to share your perspectives and plans with the Admissions Committee. The best essays are introspective, genuine and succinct in directly answering our questions and responding to our topics.

You should try to distinguish yourself by showing what makes you different from others who share similar profiles.

Personal expression is what we are looking for, not platitudes.

Making a strong case for your future plans requires you to first do research on career paths and find one that resonates. Even if this target will change during business school, your application essays should lay out a clear trajectory for short-term and long-term goals. Do this by demonstrating how you expect to build on skills from your past, and those you expect to gain from the MBA.

Essays are more compelling if they include specific courses, programs, groups, opportunities and activities from which you would benefit if admitted to UCLA Anderson. These references are best found through online research, personal discussions and a campus visit (if possible).

Content and clarity are key elements, as we seek superior communication skills.

Style is a consideration, too, although we understand that those who speak other languages may have different manners of expression in English. We do check your essays for plagiarism, so make sure you always submit your own work.

Length does not equal strength. A well-written short essay can have even more impact than a longer essay. Please try to respect the word limits indicated above.

All essays and short answer responses are to be submitted in written form only.

All essays and short answer responses are to be entered directly in the text box provided in your application.

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Interviews

Interviews are conducted on an invitation basis only after submitted applications are reviewed. An interview must be completed to be admitted to the program.

Interviews are conducted on an invitation-only basis and one is required before admission can be offered. Applications are reread following the interview, comments are added, and then the Admissions Committee decides whether to make an admission offer.

Interviews are rarely the deciding factor in an admissions decisions; instead, they typically mirror or round out information already provided in the application. We are interested in getting to know you as an individual and understanding how you'll fit into the next class. We assess your communication skills, social skills and readiness for our program.

Instructions on how to set up an interview are provided at the time of invitation.

Interviews are held on campus, or off campus via Skype, and they last approximately 30 minutes.

All interviews carry equal weight; they are conducted by second-year MBA students who are thoroughly trained on our evaluation metrics and on providing current perspectives for candidates.

Interviewing on campus allows candidates to see the campus and visit a class, but there is no advantage to interviewing on or off campus.

Interviews are blind in order to avoid interviewer bias. Your interviewer will receive a copy of your resume in advance but will not see your application.

Questions are straightforward and generally cover topics already addressed in the application, such as reasons for getting an MBA, short-term and long-term career goals, fit with UCLA Anderson and personal interests.

Pre-rehearsed speeches do not make for a good interview. You should be prepared to succinctly walk your interviewer through your resume in 2 minutes or less so that there is ample time left to discuss specific areas your interviewer may want to explore with you.

Remember that the word "interview" implies an exchange of views between people, so be ready with pertinent questions and go with the flow of the conversation.

Business attire is appropriate for this professional interview, and we check photo identification to ensure integrity.

After being invited for an interview you should submit official test scores and hard-copy official academic records to us, as described in your interview invitation.

Hint: Relax, be genuine and enjoy the opportunity for us to get to know each other.

TOEFL / IELTS

Please note that work experience in English is not sufficient for a TOEFL/IELTS waiver; the key factor is being educated in English.

The TOEFL and/or IELTS test date must be no earlier than two years before the application submission date to be valid, and not later than the deadline date for the round in which you are applying.

TOEFL and IELTS Considerations:

Applicants who were educated in countries where English is not the primary spoken language of daily life are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS, no matter the language used at their school. This includes applicants with degrees from multilingual countries such as India, Nigeria, Pakistan and others.

No preference is given to either language test and all scores will be evaluated in conjunction with GMAT verbal scores and the AWA (Analytical Writing Assessment) to determine your true proficiency level.

Applications cannot be reviewed without complete test scores (as self-reported by you or officially by the testing firm), and applications are only reviewed in the round during which your scores are submitted.

Official TOEFL score reports are sent electronically upon your request from ETS to UCLA Anderson MBA Admissions (with the School Code 4837-02). Official scores are required for admission but not for applying. IELTS are sent electronically upon your request (with school code "Uni of California, Los Angeles-Anderson School of Management"). Please do not send score reports on paper.

Work experience in English is not sufficient for a waiver of the language exam requirement.

More information on the university's testing rules for all international applicants is available under UCLA Graduate Division's English requirements.

Reapplicants

Reapplicants are those who submitted a completed MBA application within the previous two years (that is, who applied for the MBA program starting in 2017 or 2018) and received a final decision. The process to reapply is streamlined:

You may submit new test scores if desired and, of course, higher scores make an application more competitive.

If you would like to get feedback on your application from the past season before reapplying, you can email mba.admissions@anderson.ucla.edu between June 1 and June 15 (please put "feedback request" in the subject line), and we will schedule a telephone feedback session with you in late June.

Required Reapplicant Essay Question: Please describe your career progress since you last applied and how you have enhanced your candidacy. Include information on short-term and long-term career goals, as well as your continued interest in UCLA Anderson. (750 words maximum)